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Maintaining the Bacterial Wilt Nursery at Pee Dee Research and Education Center?

Applied Research

William Hardee
Area Agronomy Agent
Clemson Extension
Conway

Abstract

Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) is the most destructive and yield-limiting soil-borne disease of flue-cured tobacco in South Carolina. With limited chemical control options, growers must implement an integrated pest management plan where chemical and cultural control are used in conjunction with resistant varieties. The bacterial wilt nursery at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center, Florence, SC is the only one of its kind and has been testing for bacterial wilt resistance in flue-cured tobacco cultivars for over 50 years. After several years of little maintenance, the disease pressure in the nursery began to diminish and another soil-borne disease, black shank (Phytophthora nicotianae), began to emerge. The implementation of a rotation and inoculation schedule (table 1) developed by Dr. Bruce Fortnum at Clemson University, and an extensive fungicide program for the unwanted black shank pathogen has helped maintain uniformity and aggressiveness of bacterial wilt disease pressure in the nursery. These efforts have strengthened the value of the long-standing bacterial wilt nursery and ensure that growers receive the practical and relevant information needed to guide variety selection for high-risk fields.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: William Hardee, David Dewitt, Hehe Wang, Daisy Ahumada
  1. Hardee, W. Extension Tobacco Specialist/Area Agronomy Agent, Clemson University Cooperative Extension, South Carolina, 29526
  2. Dewitt, D. Area Agronomy Agent, Clemson University Cooperative Extension, South Carolina, 29010
  3. Wang, H. Plant Bacteriologist, Clemson University Cooperative Extension, South Carolina, 29817
  4. Ahumada, D. Plant Pathologist, NC State University, North Carolina, 27695